Carbon nanotube film composite structure, transmission electron microscope grid using the same, and method for making the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for making a carbon nanotube film composite structure. A carbon nanotube film structure and a dispersed solution are provided. The dispersed solution includes a solvent and an amount of graphene sheets dispersed in the solvent. The dispersed solution is applied on a surface of the carbon nanotube film structure. The solvent is removed. The present invention also relates to a method for making a transmission electron microscope grid and a method for making more than one transmission electron microscope grid.

1 . A method for making a carbon nanotube film composite structure:
 providing a carbon nanotube film structure and a dispersed solution, the dispersed solution comprises a solvent and graphene sheets dispersed in the solvent;   applying the dispersed solution on a surface of the carbon nanotube film structure; and   removing the solvent and thereby yielding the graphene sheets on the carbon nanotube film structure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube film structure comprises at least two stacked carbon nanotube films aligned along different directions, carbon nanotubes in each carbon nanotube film are aligned along substantially the same direction. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the carbon nanotube film is drawn from a carbon nanotube array. 
     
     
         4 . A method for making a transmission electron microscope grid, comprising:
 supplying a graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure; and   placing the graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure on a grid;   wherein supplying the graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure comprises of:
 providing a carbon nanotube film structure and a dispersed solution, the dispersed solution comprises a solvent and graphene sheets dispersed in the solvent; 
 applying the dispersed solution on a surface of the carbon nanotube film structure; and 
 removing the solvent and thereby yielding the graphene sheets on the carbon nanotube film structure. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the carbon nanotube film structure comprises at least two stacked carbon nanotube films aligned along different directions, carbon nanotubes in each carbon nanotube film are aligned along substantially the same direction. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the carbon nanotube film is drawn from a carbon nanotube array. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the carbon nanotube film structure comprises of only 2, 3 or 4 layers of carbon nanotube films. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a material of the grid is metal or ceramic. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising a step of treating the carbon nanotube film structure with an organic solvent. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein providing the dispersed solution comprises steps of:
 disposing the graphene sheets in the solvent to form a mixture; and   ultrasonically agitating the mixture to uniformly disperse the graphene sheets in the solvent.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising a step of placing a second carbon nanotube film structure on the surface of the carbon nanotube film structure having the dispersed solution applied thereon. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising a step of placing a second carbon nanotube film structure on the surface of the carbon nanotube film structure after the solvent is removed. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising a step of forming sp 3  bonds between carbon atoms in the graphene sheets and carbon atoms in carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sp 3  bonds are formed by irradiating the graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure with a laser or an ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of forming sp 3  bonds between carbon atoms in the graphene sheets and carbon atoms in carbon nanotubes comprises bombarding the graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure with high-energy particles. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising a step of treating the graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure located on the grid with an organic solvent to tightly adhere the graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure with the grid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising a step of removing excess portions of the graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure outside the grid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the excess portion of the graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure is removed by using a laser beam focused thereon. 
     
     
         19 . A method for making more than one transmission electron microscope grid, comprising steps of:
 supplying a graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure; and   arranging a plurality of grids spaced from each other on a substrate;   covering the plurality of grids with the graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure; and   cutting the graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure corresponding to the grids, and thereby producing a plurality of grids with graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure thereon at one time;   wherein supplying the graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure comprises of:
 providing a carbon nanotube film structure and a dispersed solution, the dispersed solution comprises a solvent and graphene sheets dispersed in the solvent; 
 applying the dispersed solution on a surface of the carbon nanotube film structure; and 
 removing the solvent and thereby yielding the graphene sheets on the carbon nanotube film structure. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the graphene sheet-carbon nanotube film composite structure is cut by a laser beam.